Draft Minutes of Executive Committee Meeting
Thursday 25th. March 2010, 7:00 p.m.
Memorial Hall, Craster
The Trust deeply regrets the passing of Miss Carol Grey, a former Chairman, and highly valued member, and would wish to place on record its deep appreciation for all that she did both for the Trust itself and the community at large.
The meeting was held in open session. The following members of the public were in attendance: Mike Findeisen, Joyce Shaw, Marjorie Taylor.
Present: Michael Craster (Chair), Alec Ainslie, John Gallon, Rosie Robson.
Apologies: Kevin Brown, Keith Hobbs, Hilary Punton, Fyona Robson
1. Minutes of Previous Meeting held on Thursday 28th. January
The minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 28th. January were accepted as a true record and duly signed.
2. Matters arising
Computer – Carried forward
Parking – The intention of the Parish Council to erect temporary fencing around the grassed area on Heugh Wynd adjacent to the church was noted. Rosie Robson reported that she had informed the members of the Art Club and owners of the Shoreline Café of this intention.
Mobile Telephone Petition. It was reported at the Parish Council that 45000 paying visitors had entered the Dunstanburgh Castle site and that the Tourist Information Centre had received 58000 visitors. It is therefore likely that at least 100,000 visitors passed through Craster each year. It was agreed that the Development Trust would send a letter to O2 noting that the demand was far higher than their numbers would indicate. John Gallon to draft for Michael Craster to sign off.
Other matters arising were taken as agenda items for this meeting.
3. Northumbrian Water Update
Michael Craster confirmed that George F White had received a final draft of the licence proposal that Northumbrian Water now wished to put into place as soon as practicable. The joint steering committee of Michael Craster, John Gallon and Alan Punton considered that the draft addressed all of the points where we had raised concerns. Michael Craster asked the Trustees to endorse this proposal with a view to completion as soon as possible. This was carried unanimously.
4. Playpark Refurbishment
John Gallon reported that Playdale (original suppliers of the equipment) had examined the playpark and submitted an estimate for £7738.07 to bring the park back to as-new condition. He also noted that the Playdale website contained links to a number of funding sources. The two that seemed most appropriate were the Tesco Charity Trust (grants up to £4000) and Community Spaces (grants of National Lottery funds from £10000 upwards). Concern was expressed from the floor that any grant proposal involving National Lottery funds could affect future grant applications from other village organisations like the Memorial Hall and that there could be potential conflict, particularly when the new Community Trust was formed. It was agreed that any application would only go forward once discussions had taken place with any proposed funder in order to ensure that there was no conflict.
The desire from the users of the playground for some newer pieces of equipment such as installed at Embleton was noted, and it was agreed that John Gallon would talk to Hilary Punton and Kevin Brown to try and get a “User Group” set up to identify what equipment was desired. This would potentially create a project which would fall above the £10000 minimum grant allocated by Community Spaces.
5. Progress on Craster Community Trust
Michael Craster asked the Trustees to consider the correspondence from the Charities Commission regarding the proposed Constitution for the Craster Community Trust. The comments received from Michael Taylor were also noted. While it would not be possible to mandate these comments to the Trustees of the new Trust, it was agreed that the Development Trust endorsed these comments and would ask the Trustees of the Community Trust to take them into consideration.
Following discussion it was proposed that Michael Craster should agree to the Charities Commission proposals on behalf of the Development Trust. This was carried unanimously.
6. “ How do we make the new Trust bring in the whole village”
There was a general discussion about how the new Trust might make an immediate impact on the residents of the village. The playground refurbishment and possible supply of new equipment was seen as one way of raising the profile of the Community Trust. Various other ideas were discussed and it was agreed that there may be some potential to these ideas but that further work was required.
7. Correspondence
FoNDT Newsletter Issue 7. This issue included the announcement from the Development Trust that the Craster Community web-site was now available. The Newsletter was placed in the Village Information Box.
Public Liability Insurance. The Secretary has received the policy documents for the Trust’s Public Liability Insurance for the next year.
Charities Commission. The Secretary has received e-mail confirmation that the details held by the Charities Commission has been brought up to date.
8. Any Other Business
There were no matters raised as Any Other Business.
9. Date of Next Meeting
The next Executive Committee Meeting of the Development Trust will take place on Thursday 29th. April at 7:00pm in the Memorial Hall. The meeting will be open to members of the public. |
